Foxgem: Hey! Well #1…. I am sorry for any grammar errors…I'm not that sorry…but for the comforts of my readers I apologize. Now…who is ready for the meeting between Kagome and Inuyasha? I AM!

Chapter 5 Feelings

Kagome looked down at Shippo with huge eyes. Her left hand seemed the only thing supporting her. "What…what did you say?" Kagome asked silently.

"That Inuyasha had lost his bag and Sess is helping him out. Is there anything wrong?" Miroku asked looking at Kagome with worried eyes.

Kagome's snapped up from Shippo to see everyone's eyes on her. Kagome slowly let go of the banister and took a deep breath then with a bright smile she replied, "Yes. Shall we go up now? I left chicken cooking."

"Yes, lets go. I want to see if the rice is done cooking." Rin said reaching out for Shippo's hand. Shippo gave her his hand but eyes never left Kagome.

"I'll be up in a minute. I want to talk to Miroku alone." Sango said with a serious smile. Kagome nodded and she turned around and headed up the stairs with Rin and Shippo fallowing.

As soon as Kagome and Rin were out of sight Sango jumped in Miroku's arms. Sango held him tightly against her. "Sango? Is something wrong?" Miroku asked wrapping his arms around her.

"I missed you." Sango said cuddling into his chest.

Miroku couldn't help but smile. "I saw you what…5 hours ago before I left to do my chores that Rin gave me."

Sango looked up with him with a smile. "I miss you whenever you are not with me." Sango replied.

"Oh…but then…if I never left I would never get this kind of hello." Miroku whispered dropping kisses on her smiling mouth.

After a few kisses Sango pulled away. "How did Inuyasha look?" Sango asked sitting on the steps.

"Well…he is a lot bigger than he used to be." Miroku said sitting next to her.

"You mean fat?" Sango asked trying to push away a mental picture of Inuyasha weighing 300 pounds.

"No!" Miroku laughed. "He is bigger by the means of muscle. He is not that skinny bean guy that he used to be. He…oh well. You just have to see for yourself. Besides…girls are way better at studying guys. I'm sorry but I don't check guys out."

"You'd better not check anyone out besides me!" Sango glared at him. That only made Miroku laugh harder.

"True. No one is worth checking out but you." Miroku said wrapping an arm around Sango's shoulders. Just then they heard a wail from up above them. Sango and Miroku looked at each other then they ran up the stairs together.

At the top the sight before there eyes almost made them fall over laughing. Nathan was wailing and had huge tears running down his cheeks while Shippo and Kara were wrestling. The funny thing was that Kara was winning. Kara had Shippo down on the ground in his arm twisted behind his back. But in a flash Shippo was on top of Kara twisting her arm behind her back but before he could do it Kara kicked him knocking him off.

With a look Sango and Miroku ran in and pulled them apart. Miroku grabbed Shippo and Sango grabbed Kara.

"What is going on here?" Sango asked Kara. Kara's face was red with anger and she had tears of hate running down her face.

"He says that MY mommy is his mommy!" Kara yelled thrusting to get at Shippo.

"Well she is!" Shippo said with snarl.

"Hey! I don't want to hear you use that kind of tone with any lady." Miroku said scolding Shippo.

"I'M NOT A LADY!" Kara shouted at Miroku.

"See?" Shippo said looking up at Miroku.

Sango turned Kara around to face her. "You will not talk to ANYBODY like that. Especially your godparents! Now…as for the question who is Kagome's baby I will tell you. Shippo, Kagome is not your Mommy yet. That is to be decided between your father and Kagome. Kara, Kagome is your mommy. And Nathan's. But if Shippo's Daddy fixes things between your mommy and him…Shippo will be your brother and Kagome will be his mommy."

"NO! NO, NO, NO, NO!" Kara shouted pitching a fit.

"Do you need a time out?" Sango asked the screaming child.

"NO! NOOOOOOOOO!" Kara screamed.

" That's it! You need a time out young lady!" Sango yelled over Kara's voice while dragging Kara to her room.

As Miroku watched them go he said quietly to Shippo, "Good luck with her. If you want Kagome to be your mother…than you have to get Kara's permission."

Shippo looked up at Miroku with shocked eyes. "You have to be kidding. There is no way! She's a devil!"

"No kidding. But every female can be a devil." Miroku said with sigh.

"No. Kagome is nowhere close to being a devil. She is an angel!" Shippo protested.

"Even Kagome can be a devil. Just you wait. As soon as your Father shows up…you will be looking at Kagome thorough different eyes." Miroku said looking at Shippo with a sigh.

Meanwhile…

"Kagome! Will you stop that?" Rin said standing behind Kagome with her hands on her hips.

"Stop what?" Kagome asked stirring the egg rolls in the oil.

"This quiet sad depressed look as if the world has ended! What happened?" Rin asked sighing.

"Nothing…it's just…something." Kagome said going back into her shell.

"Oh no you don't!" Rin grabbed Kagome by the shoulder and turned her around. "You will not do that to me! You will not go back into your shell. I am one of your best friends! Tell me!" Rin caught herself from growling.

"It…is just something that Shippo said. It just got me thinking, that's all. I am really all right. It was just…a surprise." Kagome said going into deep thought.

"What did Shippo ask?" Rin asked curious.

"He asked if I would be his mother. How…how would he even know? About Inuyasha and me. I mean…he knew exactly who I was without me being introduced!" Kagome said in a shaky breath.

Rin let go of Kagome and began to laugh. "That is awesome! Kagome! That is not a reason to be so sad and depressed! I would be doing cartwheels if I were you! Inuyasha probably showed Shippo some of your old photos and meanwhile he told Shippo about you two! Then there is Shippo's question that answers all of your questions. Inuyasha still wants you! Inuyasha wants you! This is wonderful!"

Kagome shook her head. "No. This only makes everything complicated. What…what if I am not the girl that he remembers and decides that I'm not what he wants. Or what if I am not ready for this? How do I know that my heart can handle this?" Kagome asked helplessly.

"Kagome…you can. You can handle this. You are the strongest person I know. Besides…I know you are ready for this. You have been in the cave too long. It is time to move on. Here is finally a man…a demon who still loves you. If he can love you for 12 years than I think…He will love no matter how much you change." Rin said wrapping an arm around Kagome's neck. "Besides…you are extremely sexy. How could he not love you? You saw how Shippo fell for you! How could Inuyasha not?"

"You think so?" Kagome asked with a small smile.

"Yeah…only…do you really want to wear that?" Rin said looking at Kagome.

Kagome looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were all dirty. Kagome growled, "Bloody clothes!"

"It's okay. I can finish here. Just go and get cleaned up." Rin said pushing Kagome to the door with haste.

With a grateful look Kagome ran to her bedroom to change. Kagome quickly changed into a black tang top and some black pants. Then Kagome brushed her hair out and pulled it back into two buns that were on both sides of her head. Then she added two strands of hair that fell neatly on her face. As Kagome reached for her make-up she stopped herself. She didn't want to be too forward. After all…this was just a dinner with friends. She didn't want to scare Inuyasha away. Kagome put on some peach perfume and with a smile she headed back for the kitchen.

In the kitchen Rin was putting all of the food in the serving dishes. When Rin saw her she laughed.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"It looks like you are ready to go out on a date. Go put on some…jeans. It will make you look more casual. As for the hair…I could say that we were trying out hairstyles for the brides maids. No…bag the hair. Pull it back into a ponytail and put some jewelry on. No rings. We don't want him to think that you are still attached to him…then-" Rin went on but Kagome stopped listening to her.

Years ago it had been her giving all of this advice. Things diffidently changed. Kagome thought with a smile.

2

"What do you mean there is no room! I set up reservations months ago!" Inuyasha yelled at the man behind the Hotel counter.

"I'm sorry sir. But this is one of our busiest weeks. We just have no room. There is nothing you can do." The man said with stiffness.

"NOTHING-" Inuyasha began but Sess grabbed his brothers arm and pulled him away.

"Look. I am not going to waste my time with Rin just because you have problems. I need to get home. NOW. Let's go and we can figure something out later." Sess said pulling his grumbling brother to the door.

"I can't leave until I have a place for my son to sleep! I had a reservation!" Inuyasha said angrily.

"You forget, BROTHER. The reason why you came here. You came because of me right? I will find you a place to sleep tonight." Sess said impatiently.

"How do I know you won't throw us into the street to sleep tonight?" Inuyasha asked.

"Because…I give you my word that I will find a place suitable for you to sleep in. In fact…a place that I wouldn't mind sleeping in." Sess said with an evil smile. He had just the right place for his brother.

"Okay." Inuyasha said slowly.

"Good. Now get in the bloody car. We are already late. Rin is going to have my head."

3

Miroku and Sango were busy playing cards with the children when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Sango called as she rushed downstairs. She WAS going to be the first person to Inuyasha…well…the first FEMALE to see Inuyasha.

Sango threw open the door and a blur went past her straight into the Jacuzzi room. Sango sighed as she closed the door. It was only Naruku worried about his wife. Life always played these tricks on her.

Sango headed up the stairs slowly hoping that the doorbell would ring.

Kikyo sat still in the tub rubbing her stomach. Oh did it hurt. How long must this go on? Kikyo took the remote on the side of the tub and turned it up a notch. Then she made the TV screen come up and she surfed the Cable for something to watch.

A little while later she heard the doorbell ring. Kikyo sighed. She would have to get out soon. She couldn't let Naruku see her like this. She couldn't be a weak human. Kikyo turned off the TV and began to rise when two hands forced her, gently but forcefully, down back into the Jacuzzi.

"What in the devils name…!" Kikyo began but her husbands face came into view.

"You are not going to take one step out of that tub. You are going to sit there and soak." Naruku said with a frown.

"How did you know?" Kikyo asked staring at her Husband with wide eyes.

"Sango called me. You can't be walking all the way from our house to Kagome's everyday. You have to rest." Naruku said rubbing her neck.

"I'm going to skin that girl." Kikyo muttered.

"You'd better not. I want to know when these things happen. I have a right you know." Naruku said giving her a kiss.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll have you know I spent more hours on my butt resting then there are hours in a year! Besides…I take the taxi to get here everyday. So there." Kikyo said sticking out her tongue.

Naruku laughed. "Well…I will just have to see about that. I have just received a 4-month lese from work so I can be with you before the birth and after. So I can be with you all day long."

Kikyo groaned. Whenever they were together he wouldn't let her lift a finger without his permission. "Please tell me that that is your Idea of a joke."

"No joke. I am here to take care of you." Naruku said studying his wife.

"Forcing me to stay in bed 24/7 constantly eating is not taking care of me. I need to move around and to work. I refuse to feel helpless." Kikyo said folding her arms.

"Having demon babies are-" Naruku began but Kikyo interrupted.

"I know, I know! They are a huge responsibility and they are dangerous. I know. You've told me! I don't like sitting all day. My butt can't take much more of this!" Kikyo growled.

Naruku laughed. "Don't worry, love. It will be all over soon."

4

Sango climbed the stairs back to kids and Miroku. When she entered the room they all looked at her expectantly. Sango just shook her head.

"It was only Naruku. Now…what were we playing?" Sango asked getting back down on the floor.

The doorbell rang again. Miroku looked at Sango. Sango shook her head. "I'm done getting the door. Every time I go to open the door to someone I expect it always ends up being something totally different."

"I'll get it!" Rin called as she ran to the door. Rin opened the door to find a soaked annoyed husband-to-be and a soaked angry brother-in-law.

"Oh were have you two been?" Rin asked ushering them in.

"Like usual…nothing goes to plan around my brother." Sess grumbled as Rin helped him out of his coat.

"It's not my fault! Blame the Air line and the bloody hotel!" Inuyasha growled at him.

"They're here!" Rin yelled up the stairs.

A few seconds later three little kids along with Sango and Miroku raced down the stairs to greet Inuyasha. Inuyasha had to take two steps backwards as Sango jumped on him to hug him. Miroku stayed behind letting Sango greet him, after all it had been so long since she had seen him. In his arms Miroku held Nathan while Kara clutched his pant leg staring with wide eyes at Inuyasha. Shippo, meanwhile, pulled on his Fathers pant leg trying to tell him everything.

When Inuyasha got Sango off of him and calmed Shippo, Inuyasha went to meet the two littlest members. Inuyasha bent slightly forward to look Nathan in the face. Nathan looked down and concentrated on Miroku's buttons.

"Who are you?" Inuyasha asked the bashful boy.

Careful so not to look at Inuyasha, Nathan replied, "Nafen."

"Nathan. Ahh…That is a pretty awesome name. How old are you?" Inuyasha asked. While Inuyasha talked to Nathan, Inuyasha couldn't help but wonder if this really was Kagome's child. He had no features of Kagome at all. Inuyasha also knew that some of the Childs features weren't even Hojo's. This couldn't be Kagome's.

"I'm free." (Three) Nathan said still be bashful.

"Ahh. You're old. And who are you?" Inuyasha asked the little girl that he just noticed. Kara on the other hand had made up her mind that this Man was a threat. Kara thought that he had somehow threatened Nathan and she had walked up to Inuyasha's legs and was ready to kick him. That is…until he noticed her. As soon as Inuyasha's eyes caught hers she jumped behind Miroku's leg with all of her courage gone.

"Are you not going to tell me who you are?" Inuyasha asked Kara. With one look at the little girl he could automatically tell that this was Kagome's child. The child was a miniature Kagome. Well…except for her eyes. Her eyes were a fierce brown. They had to have come from Hojo. Inuyasha felt jealousy rage with in him but he quickly suppressed it.

"No." Kara said quickly trying to get away from Inuyasha.

Inuyasha laughed. This was diffidently Kagome's child.

"That darling of a girl is Kara and she will be turning 5 a few days after the wedding. " Miroku said with a smile.

"Yes, but if she wants to live that long she has a mess that needs tending to." Came a voice from behind the party.

At the sound of her voice Inuyasha's soul soared. Inuyasha turned to see a pleasant sight and a surprise. Kagome did look sort of different. Her body seemed slimmer and she looked a little taller. Her hair was darker (if that was possible), lips were fuller and redder, her eyes more brilliant, and her bust was bigger.

Kagome wore a black tight tang top with low bellbottom jeans that hugged every curve. Kagome had pulled her hair back in a messy ponytail and in her ears she had two little hoops. Around her neck she wore a silver necklace.

Inuyasha moved toward Kagome. He HAD to touch her…even if that meant a hug. As Inuyasha drew near, Kagome did stay where she was but in her eyes he could see that she was scared and uncertain.

When Inuyasha got near, he opened up his arms to her and gave her a warm smile. She hesitated for just a split second then she ran into his arms for a fierce hug. Then Inuyasha spun her around. Immediately Inuyasha was over come with the desire for her to be his…forever.

"Welcome home." Kagome whispered into his ears softly.

"Thank you." Inuyasha replied just as softly.

When they pulled away Kagome was smiling brightly. "Well who is hungry?" Kagome asked everyone.

"I am!" All three children chimed which got laughter from all of the adults.

"All right. Go into the bathroom over there and wash up. Rin? Sango? Can you set everything that needs to be set up in the dinning room? I am going to help Kikyo out of the Jacuzzi." Kagome said turning to go down into the basement where Kikyo was.

Before she could get there a hand reach out and stopped her. When Kagome turned she saw it was Inuyasha. "What do we do?" Inuyasha asked.

"Would you help the kids wash up? Thanks!" Kagome said with smile as she headed into the basement.

Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sess stared at each other.

"Don't look at me! I don't know anything about kids!" Sess said crossing his arms.

"Well I guess it is time to teach you. You will be getting married soon and you know the saying, 'First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage'. You are going to have to learn anyway." Inuyasha said with an evil smile.

That's all Kagome heard before she went down stairs. When she got there she took a deep sigh of relief. So far so good! The meeting with Inuyasha wasn't so bad. He smiled at her and he hugged her back just as tightly as she held him. The only thing she regretted was the 'Welcome home' bit. That wasn't exactly what she meant to say but…what can she do about it now?

Anyway, She still had to apologize to him. About the way she treated him when she first got together with Hojo. She was not looking forward to that.

Kagome walked into the Jacuzzi and saw Naruku rubbing Kikyo's sore shoulders.

"Time to get out! Dinner is ready and it is time to eat." Kagome said cheerfully. Kagome picked up a huge white fluffy towel and opened it up for Kikyo.

"Good cuz' I'm starving!" Kikyo said with a smile. But Kikyo just sat there. Sure her face was turning red and she was grunting…but that could be just the kids kicking again.

"Are the Pups kicking again?" Kagome asked a little scared for she sister.

"No…I …can't get out of this ruddy…Hot tub." Kikyo grumbled.

Kagome and Naruku smiled at each other.

"Need help?" Naruku asked sweetly.

"Well…yeah! That is if you want me to eat or not!" Kikyo said.

"Okay hold still." Naruku said moving forward. But before he could take another step Kagome stopped him.

"What are you going to do? I am not going to have you break my Jacuzzi!" Kagome said with an eyebrow raised.

"I am going to pull up my sleeves, wrap my arms around my wife and pick her up out of the tub." Naruku said pulling Kagome's hand off of his arm.

"Okay…I'll go get Kikyo's clothes ready." Kagome said as she ran into a changing room.

"Sweet girl." Kikyo said as she lifted her arms for Naruku's arms to go under. "Now show me that demon muscle that you always brag about." Kikyo murmured into Naruku's ear.

"I'd better not. Kagome did want this Jacuzzi to be in one piece after you get out." Naruku murmured back.

Kikyo laughed but she was cut off when Naruku suddenly lifted her out of the tub. Kikyo could have sworn she heard a 'pop' when she came out of there.

As soon as she was out of the tub Naruku was setting her down carefully on some towels and Kagome was wrapping a towel around her.

"Thanks." Kikyo said using his arm for support.

Half an hour later they were all seated at the table eating the feast that Kagome and Rin put on. The dinner talk mostly consisted of the wedding plans until

"So…where are you and Shippo staying?" Miroku asked Inuyasha who was across from him on the end.

"Shoot! I was going to call to make another reservation. Please excuse me!" Inuyasha said pushing back his chair.

"I'm afraid you won't find one. This weekend and all of next week is…well…it is some sort of celebration. Hundreds are flying in to celebrate it. I don't know what they call it but it drags in tons of visitors." Rin said eating another egg roll.

Inuyasha sat back down in his seat quiet heavily. "Oh boy."

"No need to worry, brother. I told you I would find you place to stay the night. And I have." Sess said as he wiped his mouth with his napkin.

"Oh…where?" Inuyasha asked curiously.

"Here." Kagome said staring at her plate.

Inuyasha stared at her with his mouth open.

"What…?" Inuyasha asked looking at Sess for an explanation.

"Well…you can't stay with me… I have a small apartment with one bedroom? Rin and I will be sleeping there." Sess began when Kagome interrupted.

"Oh yeah. I was going to ask you about that. Why do you insist on having that dirty, cramped apartment when you could have a huge mansion." Kagome asked.

"Well…uh…it has a…certain meaning…to us." Rin said coloring.

Kagome tried very hard not to laugh.

"Then there is Miroku…he has another small apartment that he shares with Sango. Naruku and Kikyo are expecting and we don't want to put any more stress on them. So the only place open is Kagome's house." Sess said with an evil smile.

Inuyasha was stunned. Personally…he would like nothing better than to be here close to Kagome but…he did not want to be another burden.

"I have a guest bedroom that is ready to be used and I have an extra bed in the attic that we can pull down and put in the kids room for Shippo. It's perfect." Kagome said still looking at her plate.

"I don't want to be a burden." Inuyasha said lightly.

"You wouldn't be. I would be insulted if you didn't. I really want you here. Anyway…you would be a big help. I can watch Shippo tomorrow while you go buy yourself some things you are going to need. It mean a lot to me if you did, and you could watch the kids if I needed to run out and get something." Kagome said looking up into Inuyasha's eyes.

Their eyes held each other's for what it seemed an eternity.

"All right. Thanks." Inuyasha said with a nod.

"Does that I mean I don't have to go to a stuffy Hotel?" Shippo asked looking up at his dad.

"Nope." Kagome said with a smile while Inuyasha laughed.

Foxgem: There! HA! I have done it! Na Na! Boo ya! Wait till you read what happens next. I am sorry about the delay between chapters. Really. But my parents have been sending off to camp after camp. Very annoying. Sorry!